Frost took the twitter from the dawn songbirds yesterday, which made me pay attention to something that had been at the back of my mind: When does spring start?

In my youth, the presence of rats — the four-legged kind — in the best zip codes was a source of high humor.

Economically, now is the time to prime the pump, as F.D.R. said. “Do something,” as he also said.

“So, what is your weakness?” my foot doctor asked. Aside from not being able to move, I couldn’t think of any.